Wellingtonia 24

Sutton Hospital in black, Marsden in buff

Yesterday we had occasion to visit the Covid Status Assessment Centre for the Epsom & St. Helier Hospital Group, operated on a drive through basis in the grounds of what used to be the Sutton Hospital. Presently somewhat derelict, I think awaiting redevelopment as our new emergency & acute unit, for which see reference 2. There is a useful history of the place at reference 3.

On the way there, we marked down a scatter of Wellingtonia, maybe a dozen of them altogether, possibly in Copse Edge Avenue, off College Road, off Alexandra Road. Marked down for scoring on another occasion. Checked that Wellingtonia 13 of reference 4 was still present.

In then happened that where we drove in to the drive-in centre, we had a clear view of two Wellingtonia. We were not allowed to leave our vehicle, so I had to capture them from inside, with the left hand tree of the pair above.

The right hand tree did not look terribly healthy, perhaps because it was rather close to a couple of other trees. I scored the two trees as just the one, as they were rather close together, with the distance apart being a little less than the mean height. A possible rule in such a matter.

The site also included some handsome Scots pines.

The present, mostly derelict buildings of Sutton Hospital were built around 90 years ago. One wonders how many Wellingtonia there will be to see if one visited a hospital being built now in 90 years time. None I imagine. We might have the technology which keeps us alive for a long time, but we don't have space or money to spare to plant trees for the future in such places. At least that would be my guess.

Must remember to go back in ten years time, after redevelopment of the site, to see if these particular trees survive. The people who developed the Epsom cluster sites were fairly careful, probably because a lot of the old buildings - rather older than these ones - were being repurposed as houses and flats and because mature tree preservation was a condition put on the planning consent - but not at all clear that this will fly here.

Reference 1: https://psmv4.blogspot.com/2021/01/wellingtonia-23.html.

Reference 2: https://psmv4.blogspot.com/2020/03/hospitals.html.

Reference 3: https://ezitis.myzen.co.uk/sutton.html.

Reference 4: https://psmv4.blogspot.com/2020/07/wellingtonia-13.html.

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